St. Landry democrat., 1887-10-08

obligations of parental and brotherly duty,
which he could not set aside and selfshly
enjoy woman's love.
No sigh escaped his lips; no complaint
mingled with his VOWS and homage; but as
he looked to her above, in her toilet OF sum-
mer neglge, his large dark eyes like pools in
the woods receiving the midday sun, he also
saw the Golden Quill above her head fixed to
its pediment and seeking every way for ex-
tricaton from its environment.
80, Doris" said he, that | could break
away like the feathers of the bird and find
in this profession a nobler Heaven9'
North, south, east and west the inquiring
pen turned its golden point in the manner
of the active reporter scanning the horizon
for tidings, but every way it faced it groaned
and murmured.
"Go, though l must not be with you, and
find some event worthy of your talent !"
exclaimed Doris.
North, south, east and west the Golden
Quill responded on the pediment, but there
was no indication of theme sufficient to
hold it to a great purpose.
The war was over, the peace was full Of
little clouds, but brought no majestic col
lision Of forces and epic splendors to
attract the covetous finger of the news
gatherer.
SEQ to Africa" said Doris, "or to the
borders of Asia, where Stanley, your old
fellowcorrespondent, finds employment, or
the Russians press their star of empire
against the Turkish crescents and the red
cross of England. They will appreciate you
in other lands, and then you will be appre-
ciated in your own"
81 have entreated time and time again"
replied Euphorian, ''to be sent to scene
where the enterprise and ambition of great
spirits or nations might engage me, but my
publishers seem to dissuade me from any
task requiring expenditure. I suppose they
want to realize upon the achievements their
correspondents made for them in the civil
war"
A statesman who appreciated Euphorian
walked one day into the office of a rival and
richer establishment and made an appeal
for him; the proprietor took an interest in
the writer because of his advocate and
sent to the mountain for Euphorian to go to
the scene of an Indian war in the cold
Northwest.
"See, Dorisl' exclaimed the lover, "the
Golden Quill points just that way as it re-
wolves over the globe. shall make beat,
l know, upon this piece of news"
He fastened to the steppes or plains of
the Rocky mountains, sent his couriers from
station to station, took lonely and desperate
chances in the war, and brought the final
news 200 miles, riding singly, to his first
messenger post.
In the lush autumn weather, Doris, still
visiting in the Cattle gap, saw Euphronia
ride through the gate, all bronze and sinew,
with eyes like meteors, and those eyes were
in moment resting their long lashes upon
her own.
When she could see him, disengaged from
his arms, she almost cried out with fear so
lean and famished he seemed, like q deer
after winter, all eyes and tendons.
The Golden Quill was pointing south above
the library pediment, and she saw Eupho-
ran's eyes follow her own to the spot, where
like an oracle his fate seemed to be.
His throat twitched at the indication.
1t was consumption that made his great
gazelle eyes so light and yet SO fierce.
MY darling" he said, "weshall be happy.
NV success has made my new employer very
indulgent. l have set aside something for
my sister, and leased for my parents little
cottage. Now, now is the time to wed. 1t
may be"
He glanced superstitiously at the Golden
Quill.
1t pointed south and groaned.
That winter Eupho rian wrote letters and
editorials from the neighboring capital
where Doris also passed the fashionable
season. What wonder that his warm, con-
quering nature prevailed over her pity and
her fears, and that they were married? At
the altar she seemed thrice the perfection Of
fruitv health beside his hollow cheeks and
lantern eyes all famine and flame.
"a glorious, bandit-looking man." said
the ladies in the crowded church. HE
could have married any of half dozen rich
girls, but that Titan hair of Doris struck his
Salvador Rosa tastes"'
The honeymoon, passed on the mountain
where the chimney fires bazed for their re-
ception and the great wild turkeys of the
woods died for their feasts, was attended by
the solemn vane pointing almost invariably
south and uttering soft signs as it poised
above their nuptials.
No new opportunities came to Euphorian
next year but the dull routine of little themes
and occupations, and the weight of wife,
mother and sister resting upon his soul; for
he felt what he never would admit even to
himself, that he was doomed to die.
Heavy grew his liveried pen, heavy the
topics of the silly, daily world, to the scribe
condemned; and heavy rose the sigh at
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